Health Care Providers

With last winter’s story of a Fall River man hospitalized from acute mercury poisoning related to melting dental scrap , should individuals with fillings be concerned? Is there a need to remove fillings? In short: no! But read this post to learn more about mercury, amalgam fillings, and more.

This has been excerpted from the 2019 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook. To see the full publication, please click here!

Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common chronic disease among children. Poor oral health has immediate and significant negative impacts on children’s overall health, growth and development, school attendance, and academic achievement.

At TeethFirst!, we believe that early dental visits put children on a path to healthy smiles for a lifetime, and that it’s never too soon for dentists and families to team up – making a child’s first teeth a priority from the start. We believe that great healthcare requires a team of people working together to keep our little ones healthy.

Keeping that smile takes work – but there’s no rule that says you can’t have fun, too!

Making sure your child’s teeth are taken care of goes past good brushing. A lot comes down to what they’re eating, too! The key is in variety. There’s no need to stick with a few food groups when there are so many healthy options. Here are a few tips to help make the shift towards your child’s healthy smile:

TeethFirst! - Rhode Island’s own initiative promoting early dental visits - is pleased to announce Smilestones – an online campaign to celebrate the moments in bright smiles and raise awareness about children's oral health. Smilestones will also be hosting a photo contest, which is a picture perfect opportunity for families to show off their little ones' smiles and healthy dental habits —all for the chance to win a $50 Gift Card!